With Two Events to Go, Texas on Brink of Winning Third Straight NCAA Crown

By Phillip Whitten

ATHENS, Georgia, March 30. THERE are only two events left to be swum at the 2002 Men's NCAA Chmpionships in Athens, Georgia, and Stanford leads Texas in the team scoring by 33 points, 467-434.

But it is Texas that stands on the brink of winning its third straight NCAA men's swimming and diving title. Should that come to pass, Texas coach Eddie Reese will owe a large debt of gratitude to his diving corps, who will have outscored Stanford's divers 100+ – 0.

Here's the situation right now: Stanford leads by 33 with the 10 meter platform diving and 400 free relay left to be contested. Stanford has no divers in a position to score points. Texas already has 4 points, with three additional divers in the big final. If the Longhorn divers finish the worst they possibly can — 6th, 7th an 8th — they will get another 36 points, giving them 40 for the event. If they score the best they can, they'll earn 53, giving them 57.

So, barring a major injury or DQ, Texas will notch between 40 and 57 points, giving the Horns an advantage of between 8 and 25 points with just the relay left to swim.

Barring a DQ, the greatest differential possible in the relay is 18 points — that is, if Stanford wins and Texas comes in eighth — Stanford will gain 18 points.

So in order for it to be mathematically possible for the Cardinal to win, Texas must score 51 or fewer points in the diving.

The Texas divers qualified 1-2-3, so that scenario is unlikely.

Even if it should come to pass, Stanford must still defeat Texas in the relay — by as many as 18 points. However, Texas qualified fifth and Stanford — albeit with a B squad — qualified eighth. So Texas would have to swim poorly and the Cardinal would have to swim out of their minds.

It's thoretically possible, folks, that Stanford could still win. But don't bet on it.

This will be #3 in a row for Eddie Reese's Horns.

Today's highlights (more detailed descriptions to follow in the next story.

USC's Erik Vendt took the 1650 in 14:37.40, followed closely by Hrvard's John Cole.

Stanford's Markus Rogan and Peter Marshall went 1-2 in the 200 back.

Anthony Ervin swam a fabulous 100 free, his 41.62 breaking the American record of 41.80 he shared with Matt Biondi.

Texas' Brendan Hansen broke his own AR in the 200 breast with a brilliant 1:52.88 effort.

Alabama freshman Stefan Ghergel came roaring from behind to win the 200 fly.